Why I am not going to buy a computer (1987) [pdf]

Post by MerelyMortal » Tue, Jun 21, 2022, 6:26 PM UTC

WWLink wrote: post #45

UncleOxidant wrote: post #6

> My wife types my work on a Royal standard typewriter bought new in 1956 and as good now as it was then. This was written in the late 80s, but I'd guess they're still using that typewriter over 60 years after it's purchase. Not saying I completely agree with his whole essay, but there's not a lot of computing equipment still in use (or considered usable) from that era. > But the cost would not be just mone- tary. It…

A laptop from 20 years ago would almost certainly have USB ports. The first computer I saw them on was a Sony VAIO in 1997. Compaq was also sporting them at the time, and of course Apple heavily adopted them in 1998. By 2000, practically every computer had them. Yes a USB stick should work with those. USB floppy drives can still be purchased, and will generally work with anything, including android phones lol. https:…

Post by _carbyau_ » Wed, Jun 22, 2022, 2:40 AM UTC

themadturk wrote: post #149

_carbyau_ wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Remarkably consistent huh? I wonder whether the process has much to do with that: "My wife types my work on a Royal standard typewriter bought new in 1956 and as good now as it was then. As she types, she sees things that are wrong and marks them with small checks in the margins. She is my best critic because she is the one most familiar with my habitual errors and weaknesses. She also understands, sometimes better t…

It helps to realize that Berry's whole outlook on life was wedded to the idea that the best life is one anchored around one's home -- hence his ideas that good technology is purchased close to home, and repaired close to home, and that one's first best editor is found at home. Most published writers, especially those published before the golden age of self-publishing, worked with editors, and his wife was (and probab…

Post by themadturk » Wed, Jun 22, 2022, 6:36 PM UTC

_carbyau_ wrote: post #153

themadturk wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It helps to realize that Berry's whole outlook on life was wedded to the idea that the best life is one anchored around one's home -- hence his ideas that good technology is purchased close to home, and repaired close to home, and that one's first best editor is found at home. Most published writers, especially those published before the golden age of self-publishing, worked with editors, and his wife was (and probab…

It is absolutely a situation born of it's time. Financially no doubt she was covered. Should worse come to worst, by the 1980's divorce could net her significant financial worth of the partnership. But social credit for her achievements were rather small. It is one thing to have an editor, but quite another for the editor to be wedded to the job for just one writer. Every story/book bore his name, no matter that he h…

Post by themadturk » Thu, Jun 23, 2022, 7:01 PM UTC

_carbyau_ wrote: post #156

themadturk wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For a bit more on Tanya Berry's perspective on this: https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/solidarity-economy/2017/12...

Thanks. To a large degree I think that many other comments on the original article should read this one too. In many ways, I feel that this article gives credit to the woman who otherwise was little credited. But apparently, she didn't care either way.

Post by lisper » Tue, Jul 05, 2022, 3:32 PM UTC

trasz wrote: post #158

lisper wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Notice the caveat above: "if we share". Human greed is the fly in the ointment. No, it isn't. Basic physics and economics is the fly in the ointment. For a given level of economic activity, a given amount of material wealth will be produced. That wealth can be distributed evenly or unevenly, equitably or inequitably [1], but there is one basic fact that cannot change, which is the that average wealth per capita wil…

>Basic physics and economics is the fly in the ointment. Laws of physics are (believed to be) universal. Economics, on the other hand, is man-made and can be adjusted as required.